Adjustable template for supporting and aligning tower footings

ABSTRACT

A lightweight template is constructed from individual parts which are quickly assembled in the field to suspend material at a required position and orientation with respect to a work point. The template has a horizontal ring and four support legs which are connected to the horizontal ring at inclinations to form a pyramid shaped base. The length of each leg is adjusted with respect to the ring to adjust the ring roughly to the elevation desired. The materials to be positioned are connected to a crossbar and lowered through the ring until the ends of the crossbar engage the top of the ring. The material is thereby suspended centrally within and beneath the ring. The suspended materials are adjusted horizontally and vertically to the final dimensions required and all adjustments are locked in place. Concrete or backfill is poured or filled about the suspended materials. The template is then disconnected from the materials, disassembled and transported to another work location.

United States Patent Armstrong et a1.

[ ADJUSTABLE TEMPLATE FOR SUPPORTING AND ALIGNING TOWER FOOTINGS 1 1 Filed: Mar. 6, 1973 1 App]. No.: 338,444

[52] US. Cl 269/46, 249/83, 269/71. [51] Int. Cl B22d 19/02 [58] Field of Search 29/200 J, 200 P; 52/742;

249/1, 10, 83, 91, 93; 269/45, 46, 71, 76, 79, 321 R, 321 S, 321 W [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 871,879 11/1907 Middleton 249/91 1,212,397 l/1917 Pierson 249/1 1,460,344 6/1923 Kager 269/76 1,600,835 9/1926 Manley 269/76 X 3,041,064 6/1962 l-Iild 269/76 3,578,233 5/1971 Meister 269/46 UX FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,237,986 6/1960 France 249/1 1 ,lan.7,1975

Primary Examiner-Roy Lake Assistant Examiner-Mark S. Bicks Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Owen Wickersham & Erickson [57] ABSTRACT A lightweight template is constructed from individual parts which are quickly assembled in the field to suspend material at a required position and orientation with respect to a work point. The template has a horizontal ring and four support legs which are connected to the horizontal ring at inclinations to form a pyramid shaped base. The length of each leg is adjusted with respect to the ring to adjust the ring roughly to the elevation desired. The materials to be positioned are connected to a crossbar and lowered through the ring until the ends of the crossbar engage the top of the ring. The material is thereby suspended centrally within and beneath the ring. The suspended materials are adjusted horizontally and vertically to the final di' mensions required and all adjustments are locked in place. Concrete or backfill is poured or filled about the suspended materials. The template is then disconnected from the materials, disassembled and transported to another work location.

14 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures PATENTEU'JAN 191s SHEEI 10F 2 FIG 1 I PATENTED JAN 75 SHEET 2 OF 2 FlG 8 BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to an adjustable template for supporting and aligning materials which are to be cast in place. It relates particularly to a template for holding tower foundation stubs and reinforcing bar cages in position during placement of concrete or backfill.

The foundations for the towers used to support electric power lines are usually poured concrete with steel reinforcing bars. The towers that are placed on these footings are connected to the footings by bolting the tower posts to tower stubs which are cast in place in the footing and which extend upwardly from the footing. The stubs must be positioned and aligned properly to make proper connection with the posts of the tower.

Prior to the present invention the long standing method for setting the tower stubs was to build template stands of lumber in the yard and to transport the stands to the actual tower location in the field. Setting up the stands in the field required added lumber and materials (e.g., fabricated stakes, bracing, cross members, sill boards, and nails) with considerable labor to accomplish the setting. The wooden templates were costly to build, had a short life, and were expensive to set up and to tear down after use. The wooden template had no provision for fine adjustments and no leeway for error. They were hard to brace and to hold steady, causing the setup crew to drive stakes and to brace to the outside in all directions. In some areas, particularly in rocky and rough and steep locations, the bracing became very difficult.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is a primary object of the present invention to overcome the problems encountered with the prior art wooden templates. It is a specific object of the present invention to construct a lightweight metal template from parts that can be assembled at the job site, readily adjusted to provide the positioning and alignment required and then disassembled for easy transport to the next work location.

A template constructed in accordance with the present invention comprises a generally pyramid shaped frame base having a horizontal ring and four support legs. The support legs are connected to the horizontal ring at an angle to provide the pyramid configuration for stability, and the effective length of each leg is adjustable by means of a sleeve and set screw connection to the ring.

A crossbar or header bar holds the stubs and reinforcing bars centrally within the template. The materials to be suspended are attached by clamps to the crossbar and are lowered through the ring until the ends of the crossbar engage the top of the ring. The clamps are adjustable horizontally along the length of the crossbar and to a limited extent vertically with respect to the crossbar. After the suspended materials are adjusted horizontally and vertically to the final dimensions with respect to the workpoint, the clamps are locked in place.

Concrete is then poured about the materials. After the concrete has set up, the template is disconnected from the materials, disassembled, and transported to a new work location.

Template constructions as described above and which are effective to function as described above constitute further, specific objects of the present invention.

Other objects, advantages and features of our invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of one preferred embodiment taken with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. l is an isometric view of a template constructed in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention and shows the template in place at a work location with tower stubs and a reinforcing bar cylinder suspended from the cross-member of the template;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary plan view taken along the line and in the direction indicated by the arrows 2-2 in FIG. 1 showing details of the clamp arrangements for the cross-member;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary elevation view taken along the line and in the direction indicated by the arrows 3-3 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an end elevation view of one of the clamps used with the cross-member shown in FIGS. 2 and 3;

FIG. 5 is a plan view taken along the line and in the direction indicated by the arrows 5-5 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is an elevation view taken generally along the line and in the direction indicated by the arrows 66 in FIG. 1 and illustrates how the template supports a reinforcing bar cage within a hole for a poured footing;

FIG. 7 is an isometric view showing how cylindrical mold halves are used as the forms for the upper part of the footing within the template; and

FIG. 8 is an isometric view showing the top portion of a completed footing with the tower stubs cast in place.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT A template constructed in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention is indicated generally by the reference numeral 20 in FIG. I.

. The template 20 is shown positioned over a work point which includes a hole 22 for a concrete footing. Four such footings are used for the foundation for towers which carry power lines.

Each concrete footing is reinforced with a reinforcing bar cage 24; and, as best illustrated in FIG. 8, each completed concrete footing 26 has two tower stubs 28. The stubs 28 extend upwardly from the footing and have bolt hole openings 30. Since one post of the tower is attached to the stubs 28 by bolts, it is important that the stubs 28 and the holes 30 be properly positioned and aligned to match up with the related tower post and bolt holes.

The template 20 has a horizontal ring 40 and four legs 42.

Each support leg 42 is connected to the horizontal ring 40 by a sleeve 44 and two T-handle set screws 46.

Each sleeve 44 is welded to the ring and is inclined at an angle as illustrated so that the support legs 42 form a pyramid base which increases the stability of the template 20.

Each support leg 42 is slidable within the sleeve 44 so that the ring 40 can be adjusted :roughly to the elevation desired. The T-handle set screws 46 are then turned down within nuts or threaded openings in the sleeves 44 to clamp the support leg 42 in position within the sleeve 44. As illustrated, two T-handle set screws 46 are preferably used with each sleeve 44.

A pair of braces 48 are welded to each sleeve 44 and the ring as illustrated. I

While not illustrated in the drawings, the support legs 42 are preferably made up in two sets of different lengths so that shorter and longer legs can be used in combination with the ring 40 to accommodate leveling of the support ring with respect to a sloping or uneven surface beneath the template.

A foot pad 50 is connected to the bottom of each support leg 42 by a hinged connection 52 which comprises a pair of spaced flanges on the upper surface of the foot pad and a pin through the flanges and the support leg.

The support legs 42 are preferably made of pipe to provide the desired rigidity without excess weight.

The reinforcing bar cage 24 and tower stubs 28 are suspended from a cross-member or header bar 60. The cross-member 60 has ends extending beyond the diameter of the support ring 40 so that the ends engage the upper edge of the ring 40 as illustrated.

In one embodiment of the present invention the cross-member 60 is a standard box tube 2 X 3 X 3/16 inches and is 6 feet long.

The end portions of the cross-member 60 have slots 62 for connecting bolts 64. Each connecting bolt 64 is generally .I-shaped, as best illustrated in FIG. 3. The upturned lower end of the connecting bolt 64 engages the underside of the ring 40 as a nut 66 is tightened down on a threaded upper part of the bolt 64 to pull the cross-member 60 down tight against the ring 40. This clamps the cross-member 60 in position on the ring 40.

As illustrated the upper end of the connecting bolt 64 preferably has a T-handle as illustrated to facilitate rapid clamping of the cross-member 60 to the ring by pulling up on the connecting bolt 60 while the nut 66 is turned down.

The slots 62 permit a limited amount of horizontal adjustment of the entire cross-member 60 with respect to the circumference of the ring 40. This is useful in aligning the reinforcing cage and tower stubs 28 in the desired horizontal position after these suspended materials have been connected to the cross-member 60 as described in greater detail below.

The J-bolt connection to the ring 40 also permits the entire cross-member 60 and suspended material combination to be rotated within the plane of the ring 40 to the desired angular position prior to clamping of the 1- bolts 64.

The material to be suspended is attached to the crossmember 60 prior to placing the cross-member 60 on the ring 40. Thus, the reinforcing bar cage 24 and the tower stubs 28 illustrated in FIG. 1 are connected to the header bar 60 by connecting means indicated generally by the reference numeral 70, and the entire assembly is then lowered through the ring 40 and into the position illustrated in FIG. 1.

As best illustrated in FIG. 4 the connecting means 70 include a tube 72 which is slidable longitudinally along the length of the cross-member 60 and which is adjustable to a limited extent vertically with respect to the cross-member 60, as will be described in more detail below. In one specific embodiment of the present invention each tube 70 is cut from a standard box tube 3 X 6 X 3/16 inches and the tube section 42 is 4 inches long. A batter plate 74 is welded to one side of the tube,

and the batter plate includes a threaded opening 76 for a connecting bolt 78 (see FIG. 2) which attaches the tower stubs 28 to the batter plate 74.

The other side of the tube 72 has a welded-on nut 80 which receives a T-handle set screw 83, as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3. The top of the tube 72 has a weldedon nut 82 which receives vertical adjusting bolts 84.

- The bottom end of the bolt 84 engages the top surface of the cross-member 60 to raise or lower the tube 72 and attached suspended material as the adjusting screw 84 is turned in or out of the nut 82. A lock nut 86 clamps the adjusting bolt 84 in the adjusted position.

The horizontal position of the suspended material can be varied by moving the cross-member 60 with respect to the ring 40, to the extent permitted by the slot 62. The horizontal position can also be varied by longitudinal movement of the clamp tube 72 with respect to the cross-member 60.

The vertical adjustment is controlled by the bolts 84 as described above.

After the suspended material has been positioned at the proper horizontal, vertical and angular positions re quired, all of the clamps in the template are tightened down, and the footing 26 is poured or backfill material is placed in the hole 22.

When a concrete footing is poured, two half-cylinder mold sections 90 are clamped together and about the top part of the reinforcing cage 24. These sections serve as forms for the concrete extending above the top of the hole 22. After the concrete has set up, these sections 90 are unclamped and removed.

In the operation of the template 20 described above, first the ring 40 and support legs 42 are assembled and placed above the work point. The lengths of the support legs 42 are adjusted to place the ring 40 roughly to the elevation desired. The material to be suspended is connected to the cross-member 60 by the clamping means 70 and lowered through the ring 40 until the ends of the cross-member 60 rest on the top of the ring. The cross-member 60 is positioned at the required angular position on the ring 40 and the horizontal position of the suspended material is adjusted by means of the horizontal adjustments as described above. The final vertical adjustment is then accomplished by the adjusting bolts 84. This final vertical adjustment may be made with the aid of a transit. The suspended materials are then locked in place by clamping all of the clamps described, and the concrete or backfill material is poured into the hole 22. After the concrete has set up, the suspended materials are disconnected from the connecting means 70, the template is removed from the work point and is then disassembled for transport to the next work location.

The template of the present invention is completely adjustable to ground slopes. It does not require setting any sill boards or driving any stakes. It can be set up quickly, and it is wide open for guy rod setting, concrete pouring and setting of form cams such as 90. The template is quickly disassembled. All parts required are included in the template assembly. There are no nails or other lumber pieces required. It is completely adjustable during setting. The bulk is greatly reduced for loading and moving. It is quite rigid. There is no wood debris to dispose of after use. It permits an unobstructed view for dimensioning and elevation shots by a transit during the set-up operation.

To those skilled in the art to which this invention relates, many changes in construction and widely differing embodiments and applications of the invention will suggest themselves without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. The disclosures and the description herein are purely illustrative and are not intended to be in any sense limiting.

We claim:

1. A template for suspending material at a required position and orientation with respect to a work point, said template comprising, a horizontal circular ring, a plurality of support legs, leg connecting means for connecting the legs to the ring, material holder means for suspending material from the ring, said material holder means including a cross-member having end portions engagable with the top of the circular ring for support by the circular ring, cross-member connecting means for clamping the ends of the cross-member to the circular ring, and wherein the cross-member connecting means are movable about the circumference of the circular ring to permit angular adjustment of the crossmember within the plane of the circular ring.

2. The invention defined in claim 1 including mate rial holders, and material holder connecting means for clamping the material holders to the cross-member.

3. The invention defined in claim 1 wherein the support legs are cylindrical and wherein the leg connecting means include tubes attached to the ring and slidable on the support legs to permit adjustment of the support legs with respect to the ring and initial vertical position ing of the template.

4. The invention defined in claim 3 including set screws associated with the tubes for retaining the tubes in adjusted positions with respect to the support legs.

5. The invention defined in claim 3 including braces extending between the tubes and the ring.

6. The invention defined in claim 3 including a foot pad connected to the bottom of each support leg and angularly adjustable with respect to the support leg.

7. The invention defined in claim 2 wherein the template is adapted to be set over a hole beneath the template for suspending tower stubs and related reinforcing structure centrally within the hole beneath the ring.

8. The invention defined in claim 7 wherein the material holders suspend tower stubs having a series of bolt openings at the proper angle and position so that the bolt openings will be aligned with matching bolt openings on tower posts subsequently attached to the tower stubs.

9. The invention defined in claim 2 wherein the cross-member is a header bar.

10. The invention defined in claim 2 wherein the component parts of the template: can be disassembled to facilitate transport of the template between work locations.

ll. The invention defined in claim 2 wherein the cross-member has a slot in each end portion and the cross-member connecting means include a J-shaped bolt within and movable along the length of the slot and engaged with the under side of the ring.

12. A template for suspending material at a required position and orientation with respect to a work point, said template comprising, a horizontal ring, a plurality of support legs, leg connecting means for connecting the legs to the ring, and material holder means for suspending material from the ring, and wherein the material holder means include a cross-member having end portions engagable with the top of the ring for support by the ring, cross-member connecting means for clamping the ends of the cross-member to the ring, material holders, and material holder connecting means for clamping the material holders to the cross-member, and wherein the cross-member is a header bar, and wherein the material holder connecting means include a tube which is slidable longitudinally along the header bar and wherein the material holder connecting means also include vertical adjustment means for varying the vertical positions of the tube with respect to the header bar.

13. The invention defined in claim 12 wherein the material holder connecting means include a set screw for clamping the tube at a fixed longitudinal position on the header bar.

14. A template for suspending material at a required position and orientation with respect to a work point, said template comprising, a horizontal ring, a plurality of support legs, leg connecting means for connecting the legs to the ring, and material holder means for suspending material from the ring and wherein the material holder means include a cross-member having end portions engagable with the top of the ring for support by the ring, cross-member connecting means for clamping the ends of the cross-member to the ring, material holders, and material holder connecting means for clamping the material holders to the cross-member, and wherein the material holders are batter plates and the material holder connecting means include tubes mounting the batter plates and slidable along the cross member. 

1. A template for suspending material at a required position and orientation with respect to a work point, said template comprising, a horizontal circular ring, a plurality of support legs, leg connecting means for connecting the legs to the ring, material holder means for suspending material from the ring, said material holder means including a cross-member having end portions engagable with the top of the circular ring for support by the circular ring, cross-member connecting means for clamping the ends of the cross-member to the circular ring, and wherein the cross-member connecting means are movable about the circumference of the circular ring to permit angular adjustment of the cross-member within the plane of the circular ring.
 2. The invention defined in claim 1 including material holders, and material holder connecting means for clamping the material holders to the cross-member.
 3. The invention defined in claim 1 wherein the support legs are cylindrical and wherein the leg connecting means include tubes attached to the ring and slidable on the support legs to permit adjustment of the support legs with respect to the ring and initial vertical positioning of the template.
 4. The invention defined in claim 3 including set screws associated with the tubes for retaining the tubes in adjusted positions with respect to the support legs.
 5. The invention defined in claim 3 including braces extending between the tubes and the ring.
 6. The invention defined in claim 3 including a foot pad connected to the bottom of each support leg and angularly adjustable with respect to the support leg.
 7. The invention defined in claim 2 wherein the template is adapted to be set over a hole beneath the template for suspending tower stubs and related reinforcing structure centrally within the hole beneath the ring.
 8. The invention defined in claim 7 wherein the material holders suspend tower stubs having a series of bolt openings at the proper angle and position so that the bolt openings will be aligned with matching bolt openings on tower posts subsequently attached to the tower stubs.
 9. The invention defined in claim 2 wherein the cross-member is a header bar.
 10. The invention defined in claim 2 wherein the component parts of the template can be disassembled to facilitate transport of the template between work locations.
 11. The invention defined in claim 2 wherein the cross-member has a slot in each end portion and the cross-member connecting means include a J-shaped bolt within and movable along the length of the slot and engaged with the under side of the ring.
 12. A template for suspending material at a required position and orientation with respect to a work point, said template comprising, a horizontal ring, a plurality of support legs, leg connecting means for connecting the legs to the ring, and material holder means for suspending material from the ring, and wherein the material holder means include a cross-member having end portions engagable with the top of the ring for support by the ring, cross-member connecting means for clamping the ends of the cross-member to the ring, material holders, and material holder connecting means for clamping the material holders to the cross-member, and wherein the cross-member is a header bar, and wherein the material holder connecting means include a tube which is slidable longitudinally along the header bar and wherein the material holder connecting means also include vertical adjustment means for varying the vertical positions of the tube with respect to the header bar.
 13. The invention defined in claim 12 wherein the material holder connecting means include a set screw for clamping the tube at a fixed longitudinal position on the header bar.
 14. A template for suspending material at a required position and orientation with respect to a work point, said template comprising, a horizontal ring, a plurality of support legs, leg connecting means for connecting the legs to the ring, and material holder means for suspending material from the ring and wherein the material holder means include a cross-member having end portions engagable with the top of the ring for support by the ring, cross-member connecting means for clamping the ends of the cross-member to the ring, material holders, and material holder connecting means for clamping the material holders to the cross-member, and wherein the material holders are batter plates and the material holder connecting means include tubes mounting the batter plates and slidable along the cross-member. 